CHICAGO -- Brady Hoke stood at the podium for about five minutes Monday before he got the question.

How much pressure is he feeling right now to succeed at Michigan as he prepares to enter his fourth season?

"Why do you coach? Why do you really coach? If we're doing everything we can for our 115 guys -- the sons -- on our roster (then we're doing our job)," Hoke said Monday during his podium speech at the Big Ten media days in Chicago. "We've had 69 seniors (since I've been here) and 69 seniors have graduated. That's important. Football's only going to last for so long.

"The only pressure is, every day, preparing those guys for life after football."

After beginning his Michigan career with an 11-2 record, Hoke's squads have gone 8-5 and 7-6 in the past two seasons. The Wolverines struggled to move the football for most of last season, collapsing on offense late in the year. As a result, Hoke fired former offensive coordinator Al Borges this offseason and hired former Alabama playcaller Doug Nussmeier.

He also made sweeping internal changes to his defensive staff, and has consistently stressed a need to get the program back on the right track.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon repeatedly has said this offseason that Hoke is not on the hot seat entering his fourth year with the program.

So, is Hoke feeling pressure to win big right now?

"Competition, hard work and all that is part of it," Hoke said. "But socially, and academically, that's a big part of it. When you talk about that, that's the only pressure as a coach that I've ever felt.

• Hoke said the plan for incoming freshman Jabrill Peppers is still to have him begin his career as a nickel corner, and then go from there. He said, again, it's important not to "anoint" any freshmen too early.

• Asked about the offensive line, Hoke said the starting unit at the beginning of camp will probably be the same it was at the end of spring ball. After about two weeks of camp, he hopes to have a front five named.

• Hoke said, as of today, he doesn't expect anyone to miss the beginning of fall camp due to injury.

Hoke and players will speak with reporters later Monday, and again Tuesday morning.